About the Author

An Avid horsewoman, Laura has taught Basic Western Riding lessons for many years and has especially enjoyed taking beginners out for their first trail riding experience. She has volunteered with several therapeutic riding programs as a horse handler, side walker and obstacle course designer.

Laura's educational background includes technical diplomas in Forestry and Geological Engineering. For ten years, she worked as a Timber Cruiser and Firefighter in northern Alberta and Ontario; in fact, she was one of the first women hired in 1982 by the Alberta Forest Service to serve on a Helitack crew. She likes to say, "When an outhouse became a luxury item, I knew it was time to quit!" as the reason that she left forestry and moved to Vancouver Island.

Laura has published prose in various anthologies, but her first love was always fiction. She wrote "One Frosty Christmas" while recovering from major surgery in 2002. It was a welcome change from the world of technical reports, environmental impact statements and business summaries. The success of "One Frosty Christmas" prompted her to take her writing to another level, thus beginning a new career as a publisher and a professional writer.

She has just released "The Thin Line of Reason". "Thin Line" is an adult suspense thriller with a supernatural twist set in Vancouver and Nanaimo...the manuscript sat on a shelf for twenty years, but Hesse resurrected it two years ago and began updating the novel. Laura is now hard at work on "Two Independents", the fourth book in The Holiday Series. "Two Independents" is geared towards teens and adults; although, everyone will adore the devilish red-headed eight year old grandson of June Stetler, young Billy Stetler.

Hesse's publishing company, Running L Productions, is the fulfillment of a life long dream. What started off as a part-time business is now a thriving small independent press. Running L Productions owes its existence to the kindness and support of many family members and friends as well as to all those who dare to dream of riding, writing, and teaching. Laura urges everyone to listen to their heart and follow their dreams!

God Bless to all those volunteers, staff and horses that make up the therapeutic riding associations worldwide.